Means for preparing printing plates for application to printing cylinders



w. F.'HucK 2,300,550

ING'PRINTING PLATES FOR APPLICATION TO PRINTING CYLINDERS u l Original Filed Sept. 2, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 l `mvlfzn-on. M? A41@ .um 4m. hw 4 Nm\ MEANS FOR PREPAR Nov, 3`, 1942.

NOV. 3, F'. HUCK MEANS FOR PREPARING- PRINTING PLATES FOR A APPLICATION T0 PRINTING CYLINDERS Original Filed Sept/2, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 w s NQ s, m t n m w. gnam mm .Ww Q .Fm N .O a S f 2 w. -LLI Nw N W w 3 r/ F Q ss fw. N. s n mm1 uw Nez, -mi N. v. mmmt. .N @i Ummm. Hwmd amok m mmm. PTD RA..m. `\M mmm f Nm. SP.

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Patented Nov. 3, 1942 FOR y APPLICATION INDERIS v William F. Huck, Richmond Hill, N. Y., assignorV to R.. Hoe & Co., Inc., New

ration of New York York, N; Y., a corpo-k Original application- September?, 1936, Serial No; ,I 99,113. Divided and this applicationA March 7,A 1940, Serial No. 322,670 l 2 claims. (orzo-Leer.

The invention disclosed in this application, which is a division of the application that resulted in Patent No. 2,234,170, relates to method and means for preparing printing plates for application to printing cylinders and more particularly to preparing plates for use in rotary lithographic and photogravure printing machines. The plates used in such types of printing machines are in many instances formed of flexible sheet metal upon a surface of which the design to be printed is produced by well known methods. These plates are wrapped about the printing cylinder, being secured in place by means of suit able devices. v

In the use of this invention, plate clamping l5 in YFigure 7 looking inthe direction-of arrow 8 bars at each end of the plate are located a thereon. Y H I g predetermined distance from the printing form The'fiXture selected to illustrate the features or design on the plate. The fixture shown in of this 'invention is particularly designed for the accompanying drawings and as hereinafter the purpose of preparing 2 printing 'plate Il Y described is particularly useful in the accomformed of flexible sheet metal andhaving a plishment of the above desideratum. A clamping bar secured to each of its ends, which One of the objects of this invention is to probar comprises a lower member- I2 and an upper vide a fixture having means to qualify the length member I3 which are secured together by screws of printing plates plus their clamping bars, for I4 VI/'hereby the reSpGCtVe'plate Nnfl iS clamped convenient application to the cylinders of a therebetween. As referred to above, the plate printing machine. II is intended to vbe wrapped about a printing Still another object is to provide a method of cylinder and retained thereon by suitable de' securing accuracy in the register of lithographie vices .which use the clamping bars at each end printing plates Without interfering with the opthereof to assist them in so doing. `Inasmuch as eration 0f the press 30 the clamping bars are used by the aforesaid kde- Itis also an object of this invention to provide Vices, itis necessary to locate the bars relativelyv a printing plate registering xture of generally 'G0 the prntingrfOrm 01' design on the plate in improved construction, whereby the device will order that'the matter printed therefrom will be. be simple, durable and inexpensive in construcproperly located upon the sheet being printed. tion, as well as convenient, practical, serviceable The fixture of this invention is provided with and efficient in its use. a table-like plate support I5. The plate support With the foregoing and other objects in view, I5 may wbe constructed of wooden strips I6` which will appear as the description proceeds, mounted upona frame il of moral plates; Whichv the invention resides in the method and the is supported above the floor by aframe I8 carcombination and arrangement of parts, and in 40 ried by a standard I9. The xtures are provided the details of construction and in the method of with a plate bending device at each end of the operation hereinafter described and claimed. table l5, which.` is used chiefly when plates are The preferred embodiment of the invention is prepared formounting on the cylinders of print-l illustrated in the accompanying drawings, ing machines that print from a Web, wherein a'v wherein; cut-away portion ofthe periphery of the cylinder Figure 1 is a side elevational View of a plate in which the clamping devices are mounted, isI registering fixture embodying the features of` relatively small, and` it is necessary to bend the this invention; plates quite sharply so that the clamping bars' Figure 2 is a partial plan view of the fixture may be fitted' into the restricted space. The shown in Figure 1, looking in the direction of invention,` with the inclusion of the .bending dearrow 2;

Figure 3 is a section on line 3 of Figure 2,

showing the plate clamp in unclamped position;y

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, but

the'plate is 'clamped and a lbending operationclaimed in Patent No. 2,234,170 is about to be started; 1

Figure 5 is 'another View Vsimilar-to Figuref3, but showing the position of the parts directly after a plateend has been bent; v

Figure 6 is still another viewsimilar to Figure Figure '7- is a vpartial plan View of a vpart-of the Ylixture looking inthe direction of arrow lin Figure 1; and

Figure 8 is a sectional View of the parts shown vice, forms the subject of the hereinbefore mentioned patent. The bending devices ateach end of the table arethe same in structure and operrate. similarly on the plate, in View: of which showing the parts in another position whereby only one willbe described.

`A bearing bracket 2| is secured at each side of each end of the table I5 by bolts 22 and sup-- ports a bearing bushing 23, which is eccentrically mounted therein and is secured thereto by screws 24'passing through elongated slots 25 formed in a flange 26 formed as a part of the bushing 23. An angle bar 21 having flanges 28 and 29 (Figure 2), substantially at right angles to each other,A is disposed between each pair of brackets 2| at each end of the table i5 withvgudgeons 3| extending from each end of the bar 21 journaled in the respective bearing bushing 23. An operating handle 32 extends from the bar 2,1V and isgproment of the handle 32 therewith.

The flange 28 is provided with a groove 35 which extends the length of the flange and is of proper width and depth to receive the lower member I2 of the plate clamping bar. In cooperation -with the groove 35 in the flange 28 at the other end of the table I5, the plate I I with its clamping bars may be qualified as to length by the disposal of a clamping bar in each groove 3 5 and adjusting the clamped plate between the members I2 and I3 thereof. Adjustment of the eccentric 2? bearing bushing 23 permits slight changes in the distance between the grooves 35 to obtain correct measurements and location of thek plate II.

A gauge blade 36 is pivotally mounted in a bracket 31, which is slidably mounted upon the frame I1 at one end of the table, and is provided for the purpose of gauging the distance between the Aprinting design on the plate I I and the plate clamping bar. A blade 35A is disposed at each side of the table I5 whereby the printing design may be squared with the edge of the frame I1 and disposed parallel with the plate clamping bar. Each of the brackets 31 may be secured in place on theirame Il by means of a clamping set screw 38, thus permitting the operation of theV A pairof arms 4| and 42 that areused chiefly in connection with plates for web printing machines, are swingably mounted upon each of the gudgeons of each of the angle bars 21. Extending between the arms 4| and 42 rof each pair is a clamping member 43 which is securedto the arms and is swingable therewith by means of a handle 44 secured to the member 43 by screws 45. The member 43 has a plate engaging surface 46 which, in this instance, is preferably covered by a sheet of soft felt 41 clamped to the member 43 by securing bars 48 and 49 and screws 5|. Posts 52, extending upwardly from each bracket 2|., have upon their upper ends a swingable. lever 5 3 (Figure2) pivoted to the respective post by a screw .54. One end of each of the levers 53 is provided with a cammingv surface 55v adapted to engage a camming surface 56 (Figure 4) formed. on the upper surfacey of each of the arms 4Iv and 42. Whenthe'member 43. is in engagementwith a plate II on the table I5. to, securelyjclamp the.

75'* fur-therunderstoodthat each and every novel* plate between the same. The other end of each of the levers 53 is extended to provide an operating handle 51 therefor.

A bar of metal forming a bending head 58 (Figure 5) also used chiefly in connection with web printing machines, is disposed on edge against the surface of the flange 29 of the angle bar 21 and secured thereto by screws 59 which pass through elongated openings 5| in the ange 2S!l and thread into the edge of the head 58 abut- 4ting the flange. The other edge 62 of the head 53 is rounded over and cooperates with the edge of a swingable plate stripping bar 63 provided at and extending across the end of the table I5 to bend the plate II. The head 58 extends along the flange 29 substantially its entire length. Alignment of the head 58 on the flange 29 permitted by the elongated openings 6I and of the eccentric bushing 23 in which the gudgeons 3| are journaled compensates for variations in thickness of the plate I I and permits correct alignment of the rounded edge 62 of the head 58, with the plate stripping bar 63. While the angle bar 21 is being swung to bend a plate by means of the operating handle 3,2v the plate clamping bar I2, I 3 is released from the groove 35 in the flange 28.

The plate stripping bar |53y is provided with gudgeons 64, one at each end, which is journaled in the adjacent bracket 2|. An operating handle (i5` (Figure 6) is secured to the bar 6,3 by screws 63 and extends downwardly and outwardly into convenient reach of the operator. The bar 53 is operated after a plate II has been bent to raise the bent end of the plate to readilypermit its removalirom the fixture.

By theruse of a fixture as described above, a plate II having aA printing design thereon, may be located in respect to its end clamping bars I2, I3, due to the gauge blades 36 and the grooves 35 in the flange 28 of the angle bar 21 to 4be parallel therewith and with the bars I2, I3 square with the side edges of the plate.

The mechanism disclosed herein and also in PatentV No. 2,234,170 is adapted to the preparation and registration of plates for web printing machines, in which the gap in the plate cylinder for accommodation of the plate holding devices is very narrow, and in consequence it is necessary to make a sharp bend in each end of the plate in order that the clamping bars may be secured inside of the cylinder.

The operations performed during the use of this fixture when the bending device is notused, comprise the placement of clamping bars I2, I3 in the grooves 35, the placement of a plate II on the table I5 (Figure 3i), and by the yuse of the gauge blade 36, so locating the plate on the table, that .the'claniping bars may be secured at a desired fixed distance from the printing form on the plate.

It will be observed that the accuracy with which the clamping bars are thus positioned with respect to each other and with respect to the printing form, allows plates to be so accurately registered that they can be placed upon their printing cylinders with the accuracy required for high grade` printing, and without the necessity for subsequent adjustment. 4

It will be understood that the invention may be embodied in other specicforms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and it is therefore desired that the present embodiment be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and it will be feature and combination present in or possessed by the mechanism herein disclosed forms a part of the invention included in this application.

What I claim is:

1. A xture for use in assembling clamping Y bars on the edges of printing plates having print-- ing forms thereon wherein it is desired to accurately locate the bars on the plates with respect to the printing forms, said fixture comprising a support, said support having a at top of sufficient size to support a printing plate in iiat condition and allow for adjustment thereof on said top, the plate being supported with its printing form side up, a locator, means whereby said locator may be xedly related to the iiat top and overlie the printing form on a printing plate, so that a printing form may be located by said locator for accurately positioning a plate on said top, and said support including a transverse recess extending across one end thereof and of suflicient depth to receive and hold a bar with its entire plate clamping surface flush with said flat top, the recess being in fixed relation to said flat top so that when a plate is located by said locator it has its printing form in xed relation to said locator and likewise with relation to said bar recess, whereby a bar may be afxed to the plate in accurate relation to its printing form.

2. A fixture for use in assembling clamping bars on the edges of printing plates having printing forms thereon wherein it is desired to accurately locate the bars on the plates with respect to theV printing forms, said fixture comprising a support, said support having a flat top of suiiicient size to support a printing plate in flat .condition and allow for adjustment thereof on said top, the plate being supported with its printing form side up, a locator, means whereby said locator may be xedly related to the at top and overlie the printing forms on a printing plate, so that a printing form may be located by said locator for accurately positioning a plate on said top, and said support including a transverse recess extending across each end thereof and each recess being of suiicient depth to receive and hold a bar with its entire plate clamping surface flush with said flat top, each recess being in fixed relation to said flat top so that when a plate is located by said locator it has its printing form in fixed relation to said locator and likewise with relation to said bar recesses, whereby a bar may be axed to the plate in accurate relation to its printing form.

W'ILLIAM F. HUC'K. 

